Tulipa Green River

Tulipa Viridiflora 'Green River' is a stunning variety that will delight gardeners who love something original. It combines a rainbow of colours on its twisted corolla: coral, fuchsia, pink and cream, kissed by green flames. Its intensely coloured flowers can last up to three weeks, and create a superb mass effect at the end of the tulip season. As a late tulip, it persists quite well in the garden. Excellent as a cut flower.

Viridiflora tulip 'Green River' belongs to the Liliaceae family. Of horticultural origin, it is currently classified in Division 8, which is currently the smallest group, closely related to that of late single tulips. Their main characteristics are late flowering and striped or green-flamed flowers. The 'Green River' variety will reach a height of 30 cm (12in) when in bloom. Perched on sturdy stems, well above the broadly lanceolate leaves, the narrow cup-shaped flowers are 6 cm (2in) wide and resemble those of Lily-flowered tulips. However, their six "petals" (more precisely tepals) are more irregular and randomly variegated with coral pink, fuchsia, cream and apricot around a green central zone. It will flower at the end of May or in June, at the beginning of the tulip season. Another asset of Viridiflora tulips is that their flowers remain beautiful for a long time, at good three weeks. It is an excellent cut flower.

Tulipa Viridiflora Green River can be planted with biennials and perennials, or be in small groups in rock gardens. You can associate it with pink daisies or pansies. It will be a charming addition to your flower beds.

Tulip species are found in most parts of the Old World, from Western Europe to China and Japan, through Eastern Europe, Asia Minor, and Central Asia. Their distribution range also includes North Africa and the Indian subcontinent. The centre of diversity for the genus is located in the Pamir and Hindu Kush mountains and the steppes of Kazakhstan.

There are various wild species, many of which are endangered. They are either large tulips originally from cultivated fields, the most well-known being the Agen tulip (Tulipa agenensis), or small tulips found in wooded areas or among rocks in the mountains. In cultivation, these are called "botanical tulips", and one of the most common is the wild tulip (Tulipa sylvestris), which often used to grow sheltered by vineyards and whose subspecies australis is known as the southern tulip.